NORTHERN CRICKET UNION OF IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT 2020 SEASON The Northern Cricket Union of Ireland is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in Northern Ireland (Company Number NI 649724) and a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (Charity Number NIC 106791) having its registered office at The Pavilion, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast. BT4 3TA CONTENTS 2019-20 REVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ....................................................................................................................... 3 OFFICIALS AND COMMITTEES ............................................................................................................ 4 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ........................................................................................................................ 6 GENERAL MANAGER .......................................................................................................................... 8 GENERAL SECRETARY ....................................................................................................................... 15 SCHOOL AND CLUB ENGAGEMENT OFFICER ................................................................................... 19 CLUB AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER .......................................................................... 23 CRICKET DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS (UU) ......................................................................................... 27 CRICKET OPERATIONS MANAGER .................................................................................................... 29 KNIGHTS AND PATHWAY LEAD COACH ........................................................................................... 34 DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................. 38 APPEALS COMMITTEE ...................................................................................................................... 38 ANNUAL DINNER .............................................................................................................................. 38 SPONSORS ........................................................................................................................................ 39 OBITUARIES ...................................................................................................................................... 40 2 | P a g e 2019-20 REVIEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Sam Beckett Vice-Chairman Peter McMorran Hon Treasurer Kailash Chada Directors Roger Bell Rosemary Bryans Alastair Burton Stephen Dyer Michael Humphreys Ken Nixon Allan Rutherford Alan Waite Brian Walsh Ten meetings of the Board were held in the period covered by the report: Sam Beckett 10 Peter McMorran 7 Kailash Chada 9 Alastair Burton 5 Alan Waite 9 Allan Rutherford 10 Rosemary Bryans 8 Ken Nixon 9 Michael Humphreys 7 Roger Bell 8 Stephen Dyer 7 Brian Walsh 10 Those representatives ‘In Attendance’: Richard Johnson 8 Angela Platt 10 Murray Power 10 Bryan Milford 10 3 | P a g e OFFICIALS AND COMMITTEES President Richard Johnson Vice President Roger Bell Company Secretary Murray Power Child Welfare Officer Owen Lambert Public Relations Officer Richard White General Manager Angela Platt General Secretary Bryan Milford Domestic Cricket Directorate Alan Waite Roger Bell Gary Blair Andrew Cowden Ross Ellerby Andrew Rose Jack Quinn David Skelton Representative Cricket Directorate Alan Rutherford Stephen Dyer Stephen Hanna Brian Walsh Finance & Sponsorship Directorate Alastair Burton Kailash Chada Richard Hood Richard Johnson Peter McMorran Competitions Committee Roger Bell Jack Quinn Michael McDowell Staci Maxwell Wylie McKinty Ryan McMaster David Skelton Kyle Weir Gordon Scott Adrian Campbell Colin McCaughey Dave Williams Tony Lemon Richard Johnson Derek McKinley Disciplinary Panel Colin Webster Ian Dickie Alan McMillan Alan Johnston Peter Shepherd Gordon Scott Bobby Fleetham Appeals Panel Neale Matthews Julie Knight Carson McCullough Graeme Pollock Andrew Babington Harry McFadden Jack Quinn 4 | P a g e Nominees to Cricket Ireland Board Sam Beckett Peter McMorran Nominees to Cricket Ireland Cricket Committee Alan Waite Nominees to Cricket Ireland Finance Committee Alastair Burton Angela Platt Cricket Operations Manager Uel Graham Club and Partnership Officer Callum Atkinson School & Club Engagement Officer Wayne Hughes Knights & Pathway Head Coach Simon Johnston UU Cricket Development Officers James Cameron Dow Mike Grossett Inter Provincial / MTB Northern Knights Head Coach Simon Johnston Manager Andrew Rose Selectors Ryan Eagleson Simon Johnston Alan Rutherford Brian Walsh Honorary Life Members IJ Anderson JRW Boyce OBE JC Hiles JR Law P Lunney H McCrory (deceased 15 August 2020) C Walker MBE 5 | P a g e CHAIRMAN’S REPORT In the annals of the Northern Cricket Union few will look back upon the year 2020 with any great fondness. Over the past year the onset of the coronavirus pandemic occurred just as we were preparing for the season and played havoc with our plans. When we eventually got cricket underway, poor weather affected many games towards the end of an already truncated season. And yet, there was much to be positive about. With financial assistance from Ulster University we engaged James Cameron-Dow and Mike Grossett as cricket development officers to work with UU students and more widely in the community as a means of further developing participation in the game. Substantial grants were also obtained from the Department for Communities to help develop the women's and girls’ game and to purchase equipment to enhance the indoor facility at Jordanstown and for use by clubs for grounds maintenance. During lockdown, our staff rose to the challenge with the innovative use of technology to support clubs and to deliver umpires and scorers courses as well as coaching to a range of groups. When the protocols were introduced, first for training and then for return to playing, staff worked extremely hard with all clubs to ensure they were fully conversant with the requirements and ready to go. At very short notice a small group comprising volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to revamp our competitions and with the ready cooperation of clubs we managed to arrange and complete a variety of competitions for men and women in just half a season. The interest shown by players and spectators alike together with their obvious enjoyment was very satisfying. We are grateful to all our sponsors – league, cup and representative - who stood by us in what has been a challenging year for business. As ever we are indebted to the many volunteers who give so willingly of their time and talents and without whom the game simply would not function. To those who are standing down we thank you for your dedication and contribution to the Union. The winter and spring saw increased numbers at the regional development sessions at Jordanstown. Building on this good work much was planned for the season, but several games, tours and tournaments fell victim, first to coronavirus restrictions and then to the weather. Our thanks are due to the many dedicated coaches who, under the direction of Simon Johnston, were involved in delivering the still many programmes and matches that took place. The MTB Northern Knights' season was condensed into IP20 and IP50 competitions towards the end of the season. We recorded wins against the North West Warriors, but Leinster dominated the competitions which were badly affected by weather, frustrating both players and coaches alike. All are to be commended for their commitment. Stormont was due to host the World Cup runners up, New Zealand for three 50 over games in the inaugural World Cricket Super League but alas the tour was cancelled. Ireland did manage some 6 | P a g e cricket against England in the bubble of Southampton. Paul Stirling played a match winning role in a memorable victory in the last of three 50 over matches to give them valuable points in the World Cricket Super League. On behalf of the NCU I wish to thank all the clubs who made their grounds available, sometimes at short notice, to host finals, representative games, and practice sessions. The restrictions meant that we were required to hold meetings via Zoom. Moreover because of the necessity to reorganise competitions and the ongoing consultation regarding league restructuring we had to hold an unprecedented number of club meetings. An unintended but happy consequence of this resulted in more clubs participating than when we had held meetings at a venue. I hope that this helped all our clubs to feel engaged with the process. Accordingly thought will be given to the way in which we hold future meetings when some semblance of normality returns. I feel very proud of the way in which clubs, volunteers, umpires and staff came together to deliver a season which was worthwhile and enjoyable for those who took part, especially when one considers that in other regions of the UK there was no domestic cricket. Let us all approach next year hoping and planning for normality and doing our best to ensure that can happen but confident in the knowledge, should restrictions still apply that with the same “can do” attitude we will be able to deliver a meaningful cricket season. I hope everyone enjoys the winter break and wish you all well for a healthy and enjoyable 2021. Sam